Still in awe after seeing our fabulous Leopard sightings - see last Blog - we went to check out an area where a female Leopard had been seen, known to have given birth recently.... Too much to wish for really but we didn't have to look that long, not with our excellent tracker. We found her lying down trying to keep cool and she was near a rocky ledge so it was just possible her cub was under the ledge. Patience is a virtue - this little ball of dark spots came out, nuzzled Mum and alas they both went in under the ledge. We had to shoot into the darkness and through some ground level foliage but the cub was having a great time playing whilst Mum tried to sleep. Mum got fed up with the little one's antics and came outside again to a clearing. Yes! The cub was much more timid but he/she did come out and we managed to get some fleeting shots away whilst she played, suckled, went exploring back under the ledge. Fabulous, love South Africa!
Julie and Adam
August 2010
South Africa, The Day Just Gets Better: 5 Week Old Leopard Cub
The Lion, the Mongoose, the Bushbuck and their Leopard - South Africa, August 2010
What an awesome day. We found a bushbuck kill hanging in the most unusual spot in a tree - it was half way down from one major branch and half way up from another major branch, but stuck curiously on a branchlet, too fine for any animal seemingly to have put it there! Presumably dropped from the higher branch and now abandoned?
Went off on our drive and pretty soon came across a small pride of female adult Lions with two cubs. From their flat stomachs we could tell they were hungry. Following them led back to the abandoned bushbuck carcass. The Lions looked up hungrily and amazingly, one of the adults climbed the tree, precariously, and gazed up longingly at the carcass. Spectacle Number 1! The cubs were running around on the ground excitedly. The female in the tree took a couple of swipes at the carcass, trying to dislodge it and nearly losing a couple of her lives at the same time. She came down and did try coming at it from another branch but she just wasn't nimble enough to balance herself and reach the carcass.
At this stage we noticed some movement way at the top of the tree, amongst the foliage. The Bushbuck's Leopard was still in the tree, presumably she'd scuttled up when she saw the Lions approaching.
These Lions slept the rest of the day and the next close by to the tree. The Leopard wasn't going anywhere!
Yet another day we passed by this kill. The Lions had gone and our Leopard was hanging around on the ground, mostly sleeping but occasionally getting up. We decided to hang out here all day. If she was staying with her carcass, we would too! Our Leopard chased off some Francolins who were being a bit noisy and probably giving her location away. An hour or so later a Mongoose came along, surveyed the trees nearby and plotted its course ingeniously toward the hanging carcass. Spectacle Number 2. 
Sixth sense or what, our Leopard was up, alert and racing to her tree. The Mongoose was off and our Leopard became intent on checking on her carcass. She upped the tree, only to drop and have a bit of a snooze directly under the carcass.
Not for that long though. She remained reasonably alert and without any warning she stood up, reached up with her paws outstretched, standing completely upright on her hind legs, sinking her claws into the carcass she demonstrated her powerful shoulder muscles and incredible balance. Our tracker said he had never seen anything like this before. We certainly hadn't. Spectacle Number 3. 
She chomped away, occasionally dropping back to all fours when she was tired but she gradually became more confident in her balance and probably more frustrated in not being able to reach the good bits, so she summoned her strength, stood up once more and to our amazement pulled the carcass down to her branch and in the same movement carried it up 30 feet or so to the safer, higher branch, positioned it properly, and got stuck in! Uber Spectacle Number 4. 
This was as exhilirating as a Wildebeest crossing in the Mara! This Leopard was Wonder Woman: still only a sub-adult and not as strong as the male Leopards we had been seeing, she was in great condition and had performed with incredible strength and agility, entertaining us for several hours.
Off then to see if we could find the Leopard with a five week old cub. You wouldn't think you could strike lucky again in the same day.....
South Africa slideshow - 22 August 2010
Here are a few more images from our recent safari in South Africa; eight days ... eight leopards! Enjoy
Julie and Adam
South Africa - 16 August 2010
Thanks to all our South African wildlife friends (Lee, Anton, Carla, Alan, Murray, Wendy et al) who have told us many times what amazing things you can see in this wonderfully diverse country. Today marks the last day of our recce trip, and we are sad to leave. More details later, but we really have seen some absolutely amazing wildlife. Highlights .... far too many to list but include:
1. Eight different Leopards in eight days .... including a very young cub, about 4 weeks old! Many viewings were for over an hour with lots of Leopards up trees with their kills. 
2. Really great time watching and photographing Elephants. Some drinking at pools, some rolling in mud and others stripping bark from trees. One 60 year old mother (or thereabouts) with probably her last calf. The mother has fallen behind the herd so quite poignant.
3. As always some really great Lions around. Quite tricky to find in the slightly denser bush than the Mara, but when we found them, like old friends!
4. The beauty of Africa and the bush remains enchanting. It is winter down here which means very cold mornings and a wonderful mid 20s by noon. So a mix of fleeces, scarves, woolly hats and hot water bottles first thing and bush shirts five hours later.
Keep looking at the blog as we will post some more shots, a slideshow or two and on the site a trip report. This really was one of our best safaris for really outstanding African wildlife, Leopard in particular.
Julie and Adam